Lillian found him extremely fascinating. He was well traveled, at least in the sense that he had been lots of places and some were quite distant. She wondered what he had done in each place.

It seemed he may come to work for the ranch and Lillian realized perhaps, she may get the chance to ask him more.

As they were leaving, each of the men escorting their wives to the door, Lillian was stopped as he offered his hand. She took Vance's hand.

"I will be there, at the ranch. I imagine I will see you when you come by, after your talk with my uncle." Something about the way he was looking at her, that he had stopped her a little longer than the rest made Lillian's pulse race. 

"I hope to see you as well Mr. Hamilton."  Her voice was soft and she looked away demurely before pulling on her black gloves. She should have had them on before taking his hand but it couldn't be helped now. Lillian could feel the warmth where their hands had touched. 

She followed her family out but cast a slight look back over her shoulder at Vance before moving out the door.  

The family piled into the carriage and headed home.

It didn't take long for Johnathan to vanish back out into the night, a card game calling him away.

Lillian sat in the parlour with Anna, who had her feet up. Two cups of tea were brought in for them. Her aunt and uncle had retired for the night. There was no sign of Maxwell and Jenny.

She lifted the tea to her lips and blew on the hot liquid.

"He likes it you know. When Jenny flirts like that. He is probably fucking her brains out right now as they talk about that man taking her while he watches."

Lillian almost dropped her tea. Anna's tone and language shocked her. There was such lewd suggestions and such bitterness behind it.

Anna chuckled a little, she saw the shock on Lillian's face. "It's true, just not something polite people talk about. Just you watch she will throw that party and be all over every man she can. Maxwell will play the uninterested husband but as soon as they are alone..."

Her mouth was open and it made Anna chuckle harder, her round belly shaking. "Your husband never had something like that? Johnathan likes cards and gambling more than me or whores. I guess that is a blessing..." She took a drink of her tea.

Lillian shook her head. "No, we- I mean he -" She was flustered and her face turned red. 

Anna smirked. "You just weren't married long enough to learn what he liked. That first year all men tend to be more gentlemanly but soon they want more." 

Lillian looked down at her tea. "I suppose that could be true. I would not know."

Anna sighed tiredly. She lifted herself out of the chair slowly.

"Mr Hamilton seemed quite taken by you. He couldn't take his eyes off you." She gave Lillian's shoulder a squeeze. "Night."

With that Anna left Lillian alone with her tea. Lillian's mind now went places that caused her whole body to flush. Her mind flashed with images of Vance's eyes. She could still feel where his hand had taken hers. Images shifted to that hand on her arm, her back, her neck as it pulled her in-

Lillian put her tea down and began to unbutton the bodice of her dress. She was impossibly warm. She stood fanning her exposed neck. 

Her dreams that night proved interesting.
-----
Johnathan arrived at the saloon. He surveyed the room as he removed his hat. His eyes fell on Vance, amusement playing on his features.

"I see I got you interested in learning poker..." It was a jest. Many men hid their interest in cards as women could be such judgemental creatures.

"First drink on me then?"